Batch charger cooling

ABSTRACT

A coolant box for a glass batch charger that includes a base, a front wall, a rear wall, a coolant labyrinth extending from the base between the front and rear walls, and including a plurality of curvate baffle walls establishing a plurality of curvate coolant channels.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 13/346,389 filed Jan. 9, 2012.

The present disclosure is directed to batch chargers for glass melting furnaces and, more particularly, to cooling of batch chargers.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A general object, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, is to provide water boxes for batch chargers that have curvate flow paths for improved coolant flow in the boxes. Improved coolant flow results in improved cooling of the boxes to avoid hotspots and corrosion at the hotspots, thereby extending the lifespan of the boxes to reduce downtime of glass manufacturing operations.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.

A coolant box for a glass batch charger in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes a base, a front wall, a rear wall, a coolant labyrinth extending from the base between the front and rear walls, and including a plurality of curvate baffle walls establishing a plurality of curvate coolant channels.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a glass batch charger for charging batch glass-forming materials into a melt furnace. The charger includes a stationary box of hollow arcuate construction having a part-circular opening and coolant circulation paths extending throughout the hollow arcuate construction, and an oscillating box of hollow part-circular construction disposed within the part-circular opening of the stationary box, the oscillating box having coolant circulation paths extending throughout the hollow part-circular construction. The charger also includes a pusher box on the oscillating box for coupling to an actuator to push glass batch materials from a hopper past the stationary and oscillating boxes into a melt furnace, and means for circulating coolant at least through the stationary and oscillating boxes. The coolant circulation paths in the stationary box are arcuate around the part-circular opening, and the coolant circulation paths in the oscillating box are arcuate around an axis of the part-circular construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic, side view a portion of a glass melting furnace, a feed chute for delivering glass batch materials, and a batch charger for introducing the glass batch materials into the furnace in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the batch charger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of a portion of the batch charger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the portion of the batch charger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded top view of a base portion of the batch charger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded top view of oscillating and pusher portions of the batch charger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a riser portion of the batch charger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the portion of the batch charger illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along line 8-8; and

FIG. 9 is another base portion of a batch charger in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a glass furnace F that may include an exterior wall W, a doghouse D to introduce raw materials into the furnace F, a raw material or batch chute C, and a raw material or batch charger 10 that may be carried by the doghouse D to charge glass batch materials R into the furnace F onto a glass melt M. Referring also to FIG. 2, the batch charger 10 may include one or more coolant boxes. One or more of the boxes may be of hollow construction.

For example, the charger 10 may include a stationary or base box 12 that may be of hollow arcuate construction and may be used to support other portions of the batch charger 10, and an oscillating box 14 that may be of hollow part-circular construction and rotatably supported by the base box 12 (for example, by any suitable bearings 13, shown in FIG. 2) and may be used to support other portions of the batch charger 10. The batch charger 10 also may include a raw material or batch hopper 16 that may be carried by the oscillating box 14 and receives the materials R from the chute C for delivery to the furnace F, a horizontal riser box 18 (FIG. 2) that may be carried by the base box 12, and a vertical box 20 that may be carried by the horizontal box 18 (FIG. 2). The batch charger 10 further may include a pusher box 22 (FIG. 1) that may be movably supported by a pusher actuation system 24 a, which may be carried by the oscillating box 14. Similarly, the batch charger 10 also may include an oscillation actuation system 24 b that may be used to oscillate the oscillation box 14 back and forth. The pusher and oscillation actuation systems 24 a, 24 b may include supports, motors, cranks, levers, and/or any other suitable subsystems and components, for example, to oscillate the oscillation box 14 and advance and retract the pusher box 22 (FIG. 1). Such systems are well known in the art and are not the subject of the present disclosure. Accordingly, oscillating box 14 may be oscillated and the pusher box 22 (FIG. 1) may be advanced and retracted to push and spread the glass batch materials R from the hopper 16 onto the glass melt M in the furnace F.

FIG. 3 illustrates the boxes 12, 14, 18, 20, 22 and related external conduit and connectors in fluid communication therebetween. (Some conduit is omitted for the sake of clarity) For example, an inlet manifold 26 may be in fluid communication with a base inlet conduit 28, a riser inlet conduit 30, and an oscillator inlet conduit 32. Similarly, an outlet manifold 27 may be in fluid communication with a base outlet conduit 29, a riser outlet conduit 31, and a pusher outlet conduit 33. Also, the batch charger 10 may include a means for circulating coolant at least through the stationary and oscillating boxes 12, 14. For example, a coolant circulating means 25 may include any suitable pumps, filters, conditioners, municipal water supply, or the like.

The base box 12 may include an inlet 34 in fluid communication with the base inlet conduit 28, and an outlet 35 in fluid communication with the base outlet conduit 29. The oscillating box 14 may include an inlet 36 in fluid communication with the oscillator inlet conduit 32, and also may include an outlet 37. The riser boxes 18, 20 include an inlet 38 in fluid communication with the riser inlet conduit 30 and an outlet 39 in fluid communication with the riser outlet conduit 31. The pusher box 22 may include an inlet 40 in fluid communication with an external oscillator conduit 42, and an outlet 41 in fluid communication with the pusher outlet conduit 33.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the coolant boxes. The base box 12 may include a plurality of levels, which may include a lower level 12 a and an upper level 12 b, and a cover 12 c. Similarly, the oscillating box 14 may include a plurality of levels, which may include a lower level 14 a and an upper level 14 b, and a cover 14 c. The oscillating box 14 also may include a trim portion or bezel 15 including a plurality of levels, which may include a lower level 15 a, an upper level 15 b, and a cover level 15 c. Likewise, the horizontal riser box 18 may include a lower level 18 a and a cover 18 b. In other embodiments, one or more of the base or oscillating boxes 12, 14 may omit the upper levels. The levels of the respective boxes may be coupled to one another in any suitable manner. For example, the levels may be fastened, pressed, staked, welded, or the like to one another. Although not shown, any suitable seals may be used between the various levels.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 8, the base box 12 may be substantially horseshoe-shaped and may include heel portions 44 a-c and a toe portion 46 a-c between the heel portions 44 a-c. As used herein, the phrase “substantially horseshoe-shaped” includes shapes that are not exactly or entirely shaped as a horseshoe throughout, but have a recognizable horseshoe-shaped profile. The base box 12 may include, for example in the lower level 12 a, a base 48 (FIG. 8), a front wall 50 a (FIG. 5), a rear wall 52 a, and side walls 54 a (FIG. 5) between the front and rear walls 50 a, 52 a. A large portion of the front wall 50 a may be circular and may establish an opening 51 to accommodate the rotatable oscillating box (not shown). Likewise, a portion of the rear wall 52 a may be circular.

The base box 12 also may include, for example in the lower level 12 a, a coolant labyrinth extending from the base 48 between the walls 50 a, 52 a, 54 a and including a plurality of curvate baffle walls 56 a-c that establish a plurality of curvate coolant channels 58 a-c. As used herein, the term “curvate” includes substantially curved or arcuate lines as distinct from substantially straight lines that may have bent ends. The baffle walls 56 a-c may be shaped to follow the contour of the respective walls 50 a, 52 a, 54 a. For example, the coolant channels 58 a-c may be arcuate or curvate around the opening 51. Accordingly, the baffle walls 56 a-c and coolant channels 58 a-c may be substantially circular. As used herein, the phrase “substantially circular” includes shapes that are not exactly or entirely circular throughout their entire length but have a recognizable circular-shaped profile.

The baffle walls 56 a-c and coolant channels 58 a-c may include a radially inner-most baffle wall 56 a and coolant channel 58 a, a radially outer-most baffle wall 56 b and coolant channel 58 b, and one or more intermediate baffle walls 56 c and coolant channels 58 c therebetween. Accordingly, the base box 12 may include at least two curvate coolant channels 58 a-c that may extend from heel portion 44 a to heel portion 44 a across the toe portion 46 a. The baffle walls 56 a-c and coolant channels 58 a-c may be incurvate, for example, about an oscillation axis A of the oscillating box 14 (FIG. 8). In a more specific example, the baffle walls and coolant channels 56 a-c, 58 a-c may be concentric about the axis A. As used herein, the term “concentric” includes walls and/or channels having a common center, but regardless of the shape of the walls and/or channels, such that the walls and/or channels may be curvate but need not be circles or circular.

Also, the coolant labyrinth may include an inlet 34 a and an outlet 35 a, wherein the inlet 34 a may be upstream of the radially inner-most coolant channel 58 a, and the outlet 35 a may be downstream of the radially outer-most coolant channel 58 b. The inlet 34 a and the outlet 35 a both may be provided in one of the heel portions 44 a.

In an embodiment where the base box 12 includes the upper level 12 b, the upper level 12 b may include an intermediate plate 60, a front wall 50 b, a rear wall 52 b, side walls 54 b between the front and rear walls 50 b, 52 b, and a baffle wall 68 extending from the plate 60 between the walls 50 b, 52 b, 54 b, which may correspond to the walls 50 a, 52 a, 54 a of the lower level 12 a. The walls 50 a-b, 52 a-b, and 54 a-b may be separate walls or may be integrated respectively with one another as illustrated in FIG. 8. The baffle wall 68 may be disposed adjacent to and may be shaped to follow the contour of the front wall 62 to establish a coolant passage 70, and may include a fixed or closed end 68 a in one heel portion 44 b and a free or open end 68 b in the other heel portion 44 b.

The upper level 12 b, shown in FIG. 5, also may include a coolant pool 72 disposed between the baffle wall 68 and the rear and side walls 64, 66. Accordingly, the baffle wall 68, coolant channel 70, and pool 72 may be substantially circular. Also, the upper level 12 b may include a passage 34 b that may be aligned with the inlet 34 a of the lower level 12 a, an inlet 34 d that may be aligned with the outlet 35 a of the lower level 12 a, and an outlet 35 b. The inlet 34 d may be adjacent the closed end 68 a of the baffle 68 in the coolant channel 70, and the outlet 35 b may be in the coolant pool 72 downstream of the open end 68 b of the baffle 68.

The cover 12 c may include a cover plate 74, and walls corresponding to the walls of the upper level 12 b. Also, the cover 12 c may include an inlet 34 c that may be aligned with the passage 34 b of the upper level 12 b, and an outlet 35 c that may be aligned with the outlet 35 b of the upper level 12 b.

According to another embodiment, one portion of the base box 12 may be composed of a first material, and another portion may be composed of a second material different from the first material. For example, the lower level 12 a may be composed of the first material, and the upper level 12 b and/or the cover 12 c may be composed of the second material. The first material may be relatively more resistant to high temperatures than the second material. For instance, the first material may include 310 stainless steel, and the second material may include 304 stainless steel.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 8, the oscillating box 14 may be substantially circular in shape. As used herein, the phrase “substantially circular” includes a shape that is not exactly or entirely circular throughout, but has a recognizable circular profile. The oscillating box 14 may be disposed within the opening of the base box 12, and may include a rectangular pusher opening 76 at a front end between opposed point portions 78 and a midsection 80 between the point portions 78. The box 14 also may include a base 82 (FIG. 8), a front wall 84 a, and a rear wall 86 a. The rear wall 86 a may be at least part-circular to accommodate rotation or oscillation within the base box (not shown).

The oscillating box 14 also may include a coolant labyrinth extending from the base 82 between the walls 84 a, 86 a and including a plurality of baffle walls 88 a-c that establish a plurality of coolant channels 90 a-c. The baffle walls 88 a-c and the coolant channels 90 a-c may be curvate. The baffle walls 88 a-c may be shaped to follow the contour of the rear wall 86 a. For example, the coolant channels 90 a-c may be arcuate or curvate around the axis A. Accordingly, the baffle walls 88 a-c and coolant channels 90 a-c may be substantially circular. The baffle walls 88 a-c and coolant channels 90 a-c may include a radially inner-most baffle wall 88 a and coolant channel 90 a, a radially outer-most baffle wall 88 b and coolant channel 90 b, and one or more intermediate baffle walls 88 c and coolant channels 90 c therebetween.

Accordingly, the oscillating box 14 may include at least two concentric coolant channels. Additionally, the coolant channels may extend across the midsection 80. Further, the coolant channels may extend from point portion 78 a to point portion 78 a. Also, the coolant labyrinth may include an inlet 36 a and an outlet 37 a, wherein the inlet 36 a may be upstream of the radially inner-most coolant channel 90 a, and the outlet 37 a may be downstream of the radially outer-most coolant channel 90 b. Also, the inlet 36 a may be provided in one point portion 78 a and the outlet 37 a may be provided the other point portion 78 a.

In an embodiment where the oscillating box 14 includes the upper level 14 b, the upper level 14 b may include an intermediate plate 91, a front wall 84 b, a rear wall 86 b, an inlet baffle wall 96 extending from the intermediate plate 91 between the walls 84 a, 86 b adjacent to the rear wall 86 b, and an outlet baffle wall 98 extending from the intermediate plate 91 between the walls 84 b, 86 b adjacent to the front wall 84 b. The front and rear walls 84 b, 86 b may correspond to the front and rear walls 84 a, 86 a of the lower level 14 a. The walls 84 a-b, and 86 a-b may be separate walls or may be integrated respectively with one another as illustrated in FIG. 8. The baffle walls 96, 98 may be shaped to follow the contour of their corresponding walls 86 b, 84 b to establish inlet and outlet coolant passages 100, 102. The inlet baffle wall 96 may include a fixed or closed end 96 a in one point portion 78 b, and a free or open end 96 b in another point portion 78 b. Likewise, the outlet baffle wall 98 may include a closed end 98 a in one of the point portions 78 b, and an open end 98 b in the other point portion 78 b.

The upper level 14 b also may include a coolant pool 104 disposed between the walls 84 b, 86 b and, more particularly, between the baffle walls 96, 98. Accordingly, the baffle walls 96, 98, coolant channels 100, 102, and pool 104 may be substantially circular. Also, the upper level 14 b may include a passage 36 b, an inlet 36 d, and an outlet 37 b, wherein the inlet 36 d may be adjacent the closed end 96 a of the inlet baffle wall 96 in the inlet coolant channel 100, and the outlet 37 b may be in the outlet coolant channel 102 at the closed end 98 bof the outlet baffle 98.

Further, the upper level 14 b may include a plurality of baffle segments 106 a-b disposed in the coolant pool 104. For example, the baffle segments may include two or more radially oriented baffle segments 106 bdisposed radially outward of the axis A, and at least one radially oriented baffle segment 106 adisposed on the axis A.

The cover 14 c may include a cover plate 108, and walls corresponding to the walls of the upper level 14 b. Also, the cover 14 c may include an inlet 36 c that may be aligned with the passage 36 b of the upper level 14 b, and an outlet 37 c that may be aligned with the outlet 37 b of the upper level 14 b. The cover 14 c further may include a drive hub 110 that may be coupled in any suitable manner to the plate 108 and to the apparatus 24 for rotation of the oscillating box 14.

The oscillating box 14 also may include supports 112 extending between the base 82 and the cover plate 108. For example, the supports 112 may include shafts, pins, fasteners, or the like that may be welded, staked, pressed, fastened, or the like to corresponding portions of the base 82 and cover plate 108.

The bezel 15 may be coupled to points 78 c of the cover 14 c across the pusher opening 76 c in any suitable manner, and may include the oscillator inlet 36 which may include passages 36 a-c through the levels 15 a-c. The bezel 15 also may include a bezel cooling inlet 37 d, a first coolant channel 37 e between the lower and upper levels 15 a, 15 b, a second coolant channel 37 f between the upper level 15 band the cover 15 c, and the oscillator outlet 37.

According to another embodiment, one portion of the oscillating box 14 may be composed of a first material, and another portion may be composed of a second material different from the first material. For example, the lower level 14 a may be composed of the first material, and the upper level 14 b and/or the cover 14 c may be composed of the second material. The first material may be relatively more resistant to high temperatures than the second material. For instance, the first material may include 310 stainless steel, and the second material may include 304 stainless steel.

Still referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, the pusher box 22 may include a front wall 114, a rear wall 116, side walls 118 extending between the front and rear walls 114, 116, and radially inner and outer walls 115, 117. The pusher box 22 also may include a coolant labyrinth including a plurality of baffle walls 120 a-c that establish a plurality of coolant channels 122 a-c . The baffle walls 120 a-c may be shaped to follow the contours of the front, rear, and side walls 114, 116, 118. The pusher box 22 may be of hollow construction and curvate or arcuate around a pusher box axis P. Accordingly, the baffle walls 120 a-c and coolant channels 122 a-c may be substantially orthogonal extending back and forth through the pusher box in directions parallel to the pusher box axis. The pusher box 22 may include a front baffle wall 120 a adjacent to the front wall 114 and establishing a front coolant channel 122 a between the front baffle wall 120 a and the front wall 114, a rear baffle wall 120 b adjacent the rear wall 116 and establishing a rear coolant channel 122 b between the rear baffle wall 120 b and the rear wall 116, and one or more intermediate baffle walls 120 c between the front and rear baffle walls 120 a-bto establish one or more coolant channels 122 c. The rear wall 116 may include the pusher inlet 40, and the pusher outlet 41.

According to another embodiment, one portion of the pusher box 22 may be composed of a first material, and another portion may be composed of a second material different from the first material. a front wall 114, a rear wall 116, side walls 118 extending between the front and rear walls 114, 116, For example, the front and side walls 114, 118 may be composed of the first material, and the rear wall 116 may be composed of the second material. The first material may be relatively more resistant to high temperatures than the second material. For instance, the first material may include 310 stainless steel, and the second material may include 304 stainless steel.

Now referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the horizontal riser box 18 may be substantially rectangular. As used herein, the phrase “substantially rectangular” includes a shape that is not exactly or entirely rectangular throughout, but has a recognizable rectangular profile. The horizontal riser box 18 may include an oscillator opening 124 a-b at a rear end to accommodate rotation of the oscillator 14, a base 126 (FIG. 8), a front wall 128, a rear wall 130, and a coolant labyrinth extending from the base 126 between the walls 128, 130. The horizontal riser box 18 may be mounted adjacent to the stationary box 12 and the opening 124 a-b may close the part-circular opening 51 in the stationary box 12 to form a circular opening in which the oscillating box 14 is disposed.

The coolant labyrinth includes a plurality of curvate baffle walls 132 a-c that establish a plurality of curvate coolant channels 134 a-c. The baffle walls 132 a-cmay be shaped to follow the contour of the rear wall 130. The baffle walls 132 a-c and coolant channels 134 a-c may be incurvate, for example, about the oscillation axis A of the oscillating box 14 (FIG. 8). In a more specific example, the baffle walls 132 a-c and coolant channels 134 a-c may be substantially circular and may be concentric, for example, about the axis A (FIG. 8). The baffle walls 132 a-c and coolant channels 134 a-c may include a radially inner-most baffle wall 132 a and coolant channel 134 a, a radially outer-most baffle wall 132 b and coolant channel 134 b, and one or more intermediate baffle walls 132 c and coolant channels 134 c therebetween. Accordingly, the horizontal riser box 18 may include at least two concentric coolant channels 134 a-c . Also, the coolant labyrinth may include an inlet 38 a and an outlet 39 a, wherein the inlet 38 a may be upstream of the radially inner-most coolant channel 134 a, and the outlet 39 a may be downstream of the radially outer-most coolant channel 134 b. The cover 18 b may include the riser inlet 38 at one side and may be aligned with the inlet 38 a of the lower level 18 a, and an outlet 39 b at the other side and in fluid communication with the outlet 39 a of the lower level 18 a and with the vertical riser 20.

According to another embodiment, one portion of the horizontal riser box 18 may be composed of a first material, and another portion may be composed of a second material different from the first material. For example, the lower level 18 a may be composed of the first material, and the cover 18 b may be composed of the second material. The first material may be relatively more resistant to high temperatures than the second material. For instance, the first material may include 310 stainless steel, and the second material may include 304 stainless steel.

The vertical riser 20 may include a front wall 136 (FIG. 8), a rear wall 138, side walls 140, and a top wall 142. As used herein, directional words such as top, bottom, upper, lower, radial, circumferential, lateral, longitudinal, transverse, vertical, horizontal, and the like are employed by way of description and not limitation. The vertical riser 20 also may include a coolant labyrinth including a plurality of baffle walls 144 a-c and coolant channels 146 a-c. More specifically, the coolant labyrinth may include a lower baffle wall 144 a to establish an inlet coolant channel 146 a between the lower baffle wall 144 a and the horizontal riser 18, an upper baffle wall 144 b to establish an outlet coolant channel 146 b between the upper baffle wall 144 b and the top wall 142, and one or more intermediate baffle walls 144 c to establish one or more intermediate coolant channels 146 c. The riser 20 also may include the riser outlet 39.

In one or more of the coolant boxes described above, the cross-sectional areas of the coolant channels may be smaller than those of conventional batch charger coolant boxes, for example, to provide relatively higher fluid velocity therethrough. This may be accomplished by providing a higher quantity of baffle walls per area in the present coolant boxes than are found in conventional batch charger coolant boxes. Also, in one or more of the coolant boxes described above, the cross-sectional areas of the coolant channels of a given box may be the same as one another, or they may be different from one another. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the radially inner-most coolant channels may be smaller than one or more of the outer-most or intermediate coolant channels, for example, to provide relatively higher fluid velocity through the radially inner-most coolant channel. It is believed that the higher fluid velocities will minimize onset of nucleate boiling of coolant at hot spots close to the glass melt in the furnace, like the radially inner coolant channels and the like. It is believed that reduction of such nucleate boiling may reduce corrosion of the coolant boxes. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the relative sizes of the coolant channels will be specific to a particular batch charger design and application.

FIG. 9 illustrates another illustrative embodiment of a base box 312. This embodiment is similar in many respects to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 and like numerals between the embodiments generally designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views of the drawing figures. Accordingly, the descriptions of the embodiments are incorporated into one another. Additionally, the description of the common subject matter generally may not be repeated here.

The base box 312 may include heel portions 344 and a toe portion 346 between the heel portions 344. The base box 312 also may include a base 348, a front wall 350, a rear wall 352, and side walls 354 between the front and rear walls 350, 352. The base box 312 also may include at least one divider 353 to divide the box 312 into at least two separate chambers, each including a coolant labyrinth extending from the base 348 between the walls 350, 352, 354.

The coolant labyrinths each include a plurality of curvate baffle walls 356 a-c that establish a plurality of curvate coolant channels 358 a-c. The baffle walls 356 a-c and coolant channels 358 a-c may be incurvate, for example, about the oscillation axis A of the oscillating box 14 (FIG. 8). In a more specific example, the baffle walls 356 a-c and coolant channels 358 a-c may be concentric, for example, about the axis A (FIG. 8). In any case, the baffle walls 356 a-c and coolant channels 358 a-c may be substantially curvate at least along a portion of their lengths. The baffle walls 356 a-c and coolant channels 358 a-c may include a radially inner-most baffle wall 356 a and coolant channel 358 a, a radially outer-most baffle wall 356 b and coolant channel 358 b, and one or more intermediate baffle walls 356 c and coolant channels 358 c therebetween.

Accordingly, each chamber of the base box 12 may include three or more coolant channels 358 a-cthat may extend from heel portion 344 a to heel portion 344 a across the toe portion 346. The baffle walls 356 a-cand coolant channels 358 a-c may be concentric, for example, at least over their curvate portions. Also, each chamber of the coolant labyrinth may include an inlet 334 a and an outlet 335 a, wherein the inlet 334 a may be upstream of the radially inner-most coolant channel 358 a, and the outlet 335 a may be downstream of the radially outer-most coolant channel 358 b.

There thus has been disclosed a coolant box for a glass batch charger, that fully satisfies all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with several illustrative embodiments, and additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A coolant box for a glass batch charger that includes: a base; a front wall; a rear wall; a coolant labyrinth extending from the base between the front and rear walls, and including a plurality of curvate baffle walls establishing a plurality of curvate coolant channels, wherein the coolant box is a base coolant box used to support other coolant boxes, is horseshoe-shaped including opposed heel portions and a toe portion between the heel portions, and includes at least two concentric coolant channels.
 2. The coolant box set forth in claim 1 wherein the coolant channels are substantially concentric.
 3. The coolant box set forth in claim 1 wherein the coolant channels include a radially inner-most coolant channel and a radially outer-most coolant channel, and the coolant labyrinth includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is upstream of the radially inner-most coolant channel, and the outlet is downstream of the radially outer-most coolant channel.
 4. The coolant box set forth in claim 1 wherein the coolant channels extend across the toe portion.
 5. The coolant box set forth in claim 4 wherein the coolant channels extend between the heel portions.
 6. The coolant box set forth in claim 1 wherein the coolant box includes an inlet and an outlet in one of the heel portions.
 7. The coolant box set forth in claim 1 that includes a plurality of levels that include a lower level and a upper level disposed on the lower level, wherein the lower level is composed of a first material, and the upper level is composed of a second material different from the first material.
 8. The coolant box set forth in claim 7 wherein the first material is 310 stainless steel, and the second material is 304 stainless steel.
 9. The coolant box set forth in claim 1 wherein the coolant channels include a radially inner-most coolant channel, a radially outer-most coolant channel, and at least one intermediate coolant channel between the radially inner-most and outer-most coolant channels, and a cross-sectional area of the radially inner-most coolant channel is smaller than one or more of the outer-most or intermediate coolant channels to provide relatively higher fluid velocity through the radially inner-most coolant channel.
 10. The coolant box set forth in claim 1 wherein the curvate coolant channels are arcuate.
 11. The coolant box set forth in claim 1 wherein the curvate baffle walls are arcuate throughout substantially their entire length.
 12. A coolant box for a glass batch charger that includes: a base; a front wall; a rear wall; a coolant labyrinth extending from the base between the front and rear walls, and including a plurality of curvate baffle walls establishing a plurality of curvate coolant channels, wherein the coolant box is an oscillating coolant box used to support other portions of a batch charger, is substantially circular and includes a pusher opening between opposed point portions and a midsection between the point portions, and includes at least two concentric coolant channels.
 13. The coolant box set forth in claim 12 wherein the coolant channels extend across the midsection.
 14. The coolant box set forth in claim 13 wherein the coolant channels extend between the point portions.
 15. The coolant box set forth in claim 14 wherein the coolant box includes an inlet and an outlet in one of the point portions.
 16. The coolant box set forth in claim 12 that includes a plurality of levels that include a lower level and a upper level disposed on the lower level, wherein the lower level is composed of a first material, and the upper level is composed of a second material different from the first material.
 17. The coolant box set forth in claim 16 wherein the first material is 310 stainless steel, and the second material is 304 stainless steel.
 18. The coolant box set forth in claim 12 wherein the coolant channels are substantially concentric.
 19. The coolant box set forth in claim 12 wherein the coolant channels include a radially inner-most coolant channel and a radially outer-most coolant channel, and the coolant labyrinth includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is upstream of the radially inner-most coolant channel, and the outlet is downstream of the radially outer-most coolant channel.
 20. The coolant box set forth in claim 12 wherein the coolant channels include a radially inner-most coolant channel, a radially outer-most coolant channel, and at least one intermediate coolant channel between the radially inner-most and outer-most coolant channels, and a cross-sectional area of the radially inner-most coolant channel is smaller than one or more of the outer-most or intermediate coolant channels to provide relatively higher fluid velocity through the radially inner-most coolant channel.
 21. The coolant box set forth in claim 12 wherein the curvate coolant channels are arcuate, and the curvate baffle walls are arcuate throughout substantially their entire length.
 22. A coolant box for a glass batch charger that includes: a base; a front wall; a rear wall; a coolant labyrinth extending from the base between the front and rear walls, and including a plurality of curvate baffle walls establishing a plurality of curvate coolant channels, and a plurality of levels that include a lower level having the base, the front and rear walls, and the coolant labyrinth, and a upper level disposed on the lower level and having an intermediate plate, a second front wall, and a second rear wall, wherein the upper level includes a baffle wall extending from the base adjacent the front wall to establish a coolant passage, and also includes a coolant pool disposed between the baffle and the rear wall.
 23. The coolant box set forth in claim 22 wherein the upper level includes another baffle extending from the base adjacent the rear wall to establish another coolant passage, wherein the coolant pool is disposed between the baffle walls.
 24. A coolant box for a glass batch charger that includes: a base; a front wall; a rear wall; a coolant labyrinth extending from the base between the front and rear walls, and including a plurality of curvate baffle walls establishing a plurality of curvate coolant channels, wherein the coolant box is a horizontal riser box that is substantially rectangular and includes an oscillator opening and at least two concentric coolant channels that extend around the oscillator opening.
 25. The coolant box set forth in claim 24 wherein the coolant box includes an inlet at one side and an outlet at another side.
 26. The coolant box set forth in claim 24 wherein the coolant channels are substantially concentric.
 27. The coolant box set forth in claim 24 wherein the coolant channels include a radially inner-most coolant channel and a radially outer-most coolant channel, and the coolant labyrinth includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is upstream of the radially inner-most coolant channel, and the outlet is downstream of the radially outer-most coolant channel.
 28. The coolant box set forth in claim 24 wherein the coolant channels include a radially inner-most coolant channel, a radially outer-most coolant channel, and at least one intermediate coolant channel between the radially inner-most and outer-most coolant channels, and a cross-sectional area of the radially inner-most coolant channel is smaller than one or more of the outer-most or intermediate coolant channels to provide relatively higher fluid velocity through the radially inner-most coolant channel.
 29. The coolant box set forth in claim 24 wherein the curvate coolant channels are arcuate, and the curvate baffle walls are arcuate throughout substantially their entire length. 